Ice compartment for refrigerator cars



Nov. 15, 1938. v c. L. MOORMAN 2,136,632.

ICE COMPARTMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Oct. 2l. 1955 4 SheeS-Shee'I 1 OOGOOOOOGOGOQQOOOQOO/ @Wa/vl- 77015/777477.

NOV. 15, 1938. Q MORMAN 2,136,632

ICE COMPARTMENT'FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filedoot; 21, `1935 4 sheets-shee1; 2

N'ov. 15, 1938. c. L. MooRMAN I ICE COMPARTMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS` Filed Oct. 2l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. L. MOORMAN ICE COMPARTMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR GARS Nov. 15, 1938.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed oop 21, 1935 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE COMPARTMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR GARS Charles L. Moerman, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 21, 1935, Serial No. 45,847

Claims.

compartment, but it is also desirable to have aA bulkhead assembly arranged to provide a maximum amount of cooling surface for contact by the air currents circulating adjacent the particu- 16 lar bulkhead assembly. Difculty has heretofore `been experienced in acquiring a desirable amount of cooling surface for contact by the circulating air and in acquiring an assembly of desirable simplicity. In most instances, it has been customary to provide an apertured steel plate behind the bulkhead itself, this plate forming the front Wall of the ice compartment, and reliance was had upon the apertures in the plate fo-r adequately chilling the air passing thereby, which construction is not noW deemed desirably efficient.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bulkhead assembly for a, refrigerator car wherein a portion of th-e assembly forms the front wall of the ice compartment and multiplies several times over the cooling surface contacted by circulating air.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an ice compartment having a front wall of torltuous configuration toprovide a greater amount of refrigerating surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bulkhead assembly including a front for an ice compartment, the front being provided with hollow outwardly extending vanes to increase the refrigerating surface, the vanes being so formed that the refrigerant may enter thereinto.

A further object of this invention` is the provision of a bulkhead assembly for use in refrig- 15` erator cars and similar places which is constructed to provide a path for circulating air and which provides a greatly increased refrigerating surface in the path of the air.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of a front for an ice compartment which is of solid construction, thereby preventing forward leakage of refrigerant and which is constructed to furnish increased refrigerating surface for circulating air.

',` It is also an object of this invention to provide (Cl. (i2-19) a simple, economical and highly efficient ice compartment in a refrigerating car, the compartment being arranged for economical assembly in the car and also arranged to prevent leakage of refrigerant in the body of the car outside of the 5 compartment.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel and easily installed grate construction.

While some of the more salient features, char- 1n acteristics and advantages of the present invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: l5`

Figure l is a fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view through the end of a refrigerating car, illustrating an ice compartment embodying principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view 20 of the structure shown in Figure l, taken substantially as indicated by the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, transverse vertical sectionalview, taken substantially as indicated 25 by the 'line III- III of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 3. 30

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric. sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the line V--V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is also an enlarged isometric sectional View, taken substantially as indicated by the line 35 VI-VI of Figure l.

Figure '7 is a plan sectional view through a section of the front wall of an ice compartment, showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Figure 8 is an enlarged 4fragmentary vertical 40 sectional view through the refrigerating compartment, taken lengthwise of the refrigerating car, and showing a modified form of construction especially with reference to the grate structure.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional view 45 taken substantially as indicated by the line IX- IX of Figure 8.

Figure l0 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View, taken substantially as indicated by the line X-X of Figure 9. 50

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown in connection with a freight or refrigerator car of any standard construction, of which only the body portion of the car is illus- 55 trated. The car structure includes a supporting frame I and abody structure including side Walls II, an insulated floor structure generally indicated by numeral I2, and a roof I3 spaced above an insulated ice compartment ceiling I 4, leaving an air space therebetween as a means of insulation. The roof I3 is also provided with a hatch I5 through which the refrigerating compartment may be filled with refrigerant, such as blocks of i'ce. The side and end walls I I are each provided 'with a plurality of layers of suitable insulation I6 and with a false wall I1 spaced inwardly from the insulation I 6 to leave an air gap therebetween to add to the insulating powers of the wall. In the body of the car, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a false floor I8 is preferably provided which is open at the ends in order to permit a circulation of air therebeneath.

Preferably adjacent each end of the car an ice compartment is provided defined on the sides of the car by the false walls I1, at the end of the car by a second false wall I9, preferably metallic and spaced from the aforesaid false wall l1 to leave a dead air space between these walls, and on the front by a bulkhead assembly generally indicated in Figure 1 by numeral 20. The refrigerant compartment ZI thus dened is lled through the hatch I 5 with a goodly portion of refrigerant, usually ice, and adequate drainage means must be provided.

To this end, both the floor I2 and false floor I8 terminate immediately adjacent the the bulkhead assembly 20. Immediately beneath the bulkhead assembly is a supporting joist or VStringer 22 shouldered to accommodate a wooden iioor section 23 covered by a metallic member 24 which forms the floor for the compartment 2I. Another cross timber 25 also aids in supporting this floor, and this timber together with the floor nis hollowed out to receive a drain catch 26 preferably secured to or integral with the metallic flooring 24. Through this catch a drain pipe 21 extends and the upper end of this pipe is protected by a scum hood or the like 28.

At regular spaced intervals transversely across the car, stirrups 29 are mounted in position upon the joist 22, and exactly opposite these stirrups other angularly formed stirrups 3D are Ymounted upon an end joist 3I. Each of these stirrups 29 ,and 30 have inwardly extending flanges, as best seen in Figure 5, upon which are laid inverted T-iron supports 32. Upon the side iianges of the supports 32 a plurality of corrugated grates 33 are laid in position. Each grate section 33 is preferably supported between the flanges of adjacent T-irons, the upright legs of the T-irons extending between the ends of adjacent grate sections. Of course, suitable supports are provided for the outer grate sections adjacent the side Walls of the car. These grate sections are provided with upwardly extending flanges 34 at each end thereof to form a box-like structure in connection with the T-iron supports. 'I'he grate sections as seen in Figure 2 are provided with a plurality of apertures 35 through which melted refrigerant may drain. If not desired, the T- iron supports 32 and grate sections 33 need not be secured in position but may merely be laid in position, the abutment of the grate sections against the leg fianges of the T-irons preventing shifting of the respective members so that they will remain in position even though ice is dumped thereupon through the hatch I5.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be `seen that the bulkhead assembly 20 includes a plurality of spaced uprights 36 each of which rests upon an aforesaid stirrup 29. These uprights are in the form of I-beams, and inside the uprights and secured to the webs thereof are a plurality of metallic sections 31 forming the front for the ice compartment 2l. To the exterior faces of the upright iianges nearest the center of the car a bulkhead 38 made of wood or any other suitable material is attached in any suitable manner.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will be .seen that each of the uprights 36 is preferably made up of a pair of channel irons with the bottoms of the channels in confronting relationship to form an I-beam. Each of the uprights is seated upon one of the stirrups 29 and riveted thereto as indicated at 39 in Figure 5. If. so desired, the uprights may be held in position adjacent the ceiling I4 of the car in any suitable manner. It will be noted that the upright flanges 34 on the grate sections 33 abut the uprights 36 so that each grate section together with the vertical portions of the beams 32 forms a shallow container for refrigerant which prevents melted refrigerant from leaking, except through the apertures 35. Adjacent the false side Walls I1, uprights 40 in the form of. a single channel iron are provided.

The metallic sections 31, which are preferably stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal, are provided with forwardly extending flanges 4I on each side thereof riveted as indicated at 42 to the web portions of the I-beams 36. When so positioned, the sections 31 form a front for the refrigerant compartment 2I In order to provide a greatly increased surface area for contact by circulating air, each of the sections 31 is corrugated or otherwise provided with a plurality of outwardly extending hollow vanes 43 which extend into the space provided by the web portions of the uprights 36. The vanes 43 are preferably formed integrally out of the same material as the sections 31 and are left hollow and opening into the refrigerating compartment to permit refrigerant to enter into these vanes. With reference to Figures l and 6, it will be seen that the vanes are uncovered at the top and bottom thereof, and that the sections 31 do not extend to the insulated ceiling I4 of the car body and they also terminate above the insulated floor I2, so that when these vanes are not entirely filled with refrigerant, circulating air may pass through the vanes as Well as between the vanes. The tortuous formation of the sections 31 provides approximately three times as much cooling surface as would be the case if the sections were flat. 'I'he vanes 43 preferably abut the bulkhead to provide a rigid front for the ice compartment.

With the bulkhead 38 mounted as aforesaid and preferably extending substantially even with the tops f the vanes but terminating a small distance short of. the bottoms thereof, an air passage is defined between the sections 31 and the bulkhead. To guide the air into this path across the sections 31 a sloping baille 44 is provided which is flanged along each margin thereof and riveted to the uprights as indicated at 45. It will be noted that the inside flange of this baille is stepped as indicated at 46 (Fig. 6) so as to seat nicely upon the top of the sections 31.

With the ice compartment and bulkhead assembly constructed as above described, it will be seen that warm air from the merchandise ZIM compartment ofthe car will be guided by theV baille 44 into Ythe air path between the bulkhead 20 and sections 31. This air will descend, contacting the cooling surface provided by the sections 31, passing between the vanes'43 and in some instances through the vanes 43, and again enter the merchandise compartment of the car beneath the bulkhead 38. Some of the circulating air may also pass beneath the false floor I8 to keep this floor in a cool state. If` another refrigerating compartment is provided in the opposite end of the car body, there will be substantially two areas of circulating air, each extending substantially to the center of Athe car and following the course of travel outlined above. The tortuous surface of the front of. the refrigerating compartment will effectively cool this air to a much more efficient degree than anything developed heretofore of which I am aware.

In Figure 7, I have shown a modied form of construction for the sections 31. In this instance, I have illustrated in cross-section a similar section 45 having side flanges 41 thereon for attachment to the uprights 36 in the manner before described. In this instance, the vaned portions 48 of the section are made angular instead `of with rounded outer extremities and the outer portions of these vanes are much wider than the spaces between the vanes. Accordingly, a greater amount of refrigerant may enter inside the vanes and cool the surfaces thereof more effectively.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, I have shown a modified form of construction, mainly centered in a novel and easily installed grate construction. In this construction, the same uprights 36, the same vaned sections 31 secured thereto, and substantially the same bulkhead 38a secured to the uprights, as before explained, are utilized, so no further description of these structures is necessary at this point.

In this instance, a different form of foot or stirrup 49 for the bottom of each upright is utilized. Adjacent the side walls of the car, a half foot or stirrup 50 is utilized to support the single channel iron upright 40 in this region. The stirrup is provided with substantial triangular shaped side wings which with the bottom and back of the stirrup form a socket for the reception of each upright 36, each upright being secured to the respective socket by rivets or bolts as indicated at I.

As a main grate support, each of the uprights is provided in the upper rear portion thereof with a flange 52, upon which flanges is seated a transversely extending angle iron 53. The vertical flange of this angle iron extends upwardly to a point above the lower ends of the sections 31, as indicated at 54, to thereby confine the melted refrigerant in the refrigerant compartment. The horizontal leg or flange of the angle iron 53 seats upon the flanges 52 and forms a rest for a grate construction to be later described herein.

At the opposite end of the refrigerating compartment, a transversely extending joist 3 I a, similar in character to the aforesaid joist 3|, provides a main support for the opposite sides of the grate section. The inner upper corner of the joist 3Ia is capped by an angle iron 55. At this point, it is to be noted that the angle iron 55 may be one piece exten-ding laterally across the width of the refrigerant compartment and secured to the joist 3 la, or, if so desired, it may be made up of several pieces each the width of a grate section, andwelded or otherwise attached to the bottom of the respective grate sections.

The novel grate constructionv includes a plurality of similar corrugated'sections 56 and a grate section 51 adjacent one side of the car. Each grate section 56 is provided with a side ange 58 extending substantially vertically to the bottom of the grate section, and on the opposite side thereof, with another flange 59 shaped in the form of a hook for hooking over the flange `58 on the next adjacent grate section, as seen clearly in Figure l0. The4 grate section 51.differs from the sections 55 only in that it is provided with a vertical flange 58 on each side thereof, since one of `these flanges will abut the false side wall I1 of the car.

It will therefore be apparent that the grate sections may be easily installed in the refrigerating compartment by simplylaying the section` 51 in position against the false side wall of the car, resting upon the angle iron 53 and the angle 55 or joist Sla, as the case may be. The sections 58 are then laid in position, one at a time, with the side flange 59 hooked over the adjoining flange 58 until the floor of the refrigerating compartment is covered with the grate.

As seen in Figure 9, the grate sections are Y each provided with a plurality of apertures 60 in the bottoms thereof and drainage through these apertures may be expelled from the car in the manner above outlined in connection with Figure 1.

The angle iron 53 may also be provided with apertures 6I in itsvertical flange, as seen best in Figure 10, to provide additional air circulation space, is so desired.

It will also be noted that, if so desired, the interlocked flanges 58 and 59 may be bolted together, but such is not necessary to hold these grate sections in position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided means for defining a refrigerant compartment in a refrigerating car including a bulkhead assembly and a bottom structure. The bulkhead assembly is simple in construction, easy to install and provides a greatly increased cooling surface for contact by circulating air. The bottom construction includes a very quickly installed grate assembly wherein the parts may be easily laid in position, these parts being so sized and arranged that they cannot shift laterally relatively to each other. The entire structure is very durable and may be economically manufactured and installed.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than is necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a refrigerating car, walls dening a refrigerant compartment, one of said Walls being of material of high heat conductivity relatively to the other walls, and said Wall having a tortuous configuration to present added surface contact to circulating air, a bulkhead disposed adjacent said wall to dene an air passage therebetween, said bulkhead being shorter than said wall, and a sloping bailie disposed above said bulkhead to direct circulating air into said air passage.

2. In a refrigerating car, means defining a refrigerant compartment, spaced supports extending above the oor of said compartment along opposite sides thereof, inverted T-beams on said supports, and grate sections loosely laid on flanges of adjacent beams, the legs of said beams extending above said grate sections, and said grate sections having end flanges extending upwardly between said beams.

3. In a refrigerator car, means defining a refrigerant compartment, spaced supports at the bottom of said compartment on opposite sides thereof, a series of spaced apart beams laid on said supports, said beams being distributed across the bottom of said compartment with each of said beams having a central upstanding ange and a lateral ange on each side thereof, and grate sections laid on the lateral flanges of adjacent beams, said grate sections maintaining said beams in position on saidsupports.

4. In a refrigerator car, means defining a refrigerant compartment, spaced supports at opposite sides of the bottom region of said compartment, a series of spaced laterally anged beams loosely laid on said support, and grate sections loosely laid on the lateral anges of adjacent beams, the relative abutment of the sections and beams maintaining the proper disposition and forming a removable grate structure.

5. In a refrigerating car, walls defining a refrigerant compartment, one of said walls being imperforate and including a plurality of hollow vertically extending fins, a bulkhead disposed against the outer edges of said ns, the space between the bulkhead and said wall being open both at the top and bottom thereof, and a baffle sloping upwardly and outwardly from the top of said wall with its outer edge spaced above said bulkhead to guide circulating air into the space between the wall and bulkhead and through said fins.

CHARLES L. MOORMAN. 

